Electrical connecting and supporting means



Jan. 18, 1938. H. J. wlLsoN ELECTRICAL CONNECTING AND SUPPORTING MEANS Filed June 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIII ,m am.

;NVENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 18, 1938. H. J. WILSON ELECTRICAL CONNECTING AND SUPPORTING MEANS Filed June 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 18, 1938 PATET OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTING AND SUPPORT- ING MEAN S Herbert J. Wilson, New York, N. Y.

Application June 4,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical connecting and supporting means for electric fixtures such as lamps, clocks and other such electrically controlled devices, particularly where such devices 5 are to be supported directly on the nished surfaces of the walls of a room or compartment.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide electrical means for connecting an electric device with the feed Wires or conductors which lead into l0 an outlet box supported at the same wall at which the electric device is supported, parts of the connecting means constituting electric terminals 1ocated adjacent the face of the wall and which are detachably united, so as to enable the electric device to be directly mechanically supported on the Wall, by means of such detachable terminals,

whereby, for example, the painting or finishing of the wall at points surrounding the detachable terminals can be done without such defacement or damage to such Wall surface as generally occurs when the electric conductors leading into the outlet box are so connected with the electric xture or device that such connection is usually left as it is. In the latter case it is necessary before g5 painting or finishing the Wall surface to dismount the electric device from the wall or the like on which it is mounted and to pull the feed wires out from the outlet box sufficiently so as to enable proper finishing of the wall in the area directly around and at the surface against which the electric device has been attached, more painting being necessary after it is in place.

Other objects in addition to the above are to provide a thoroughly practical and eflicient means for electrically connecting electric devices supported upon a wall or the like with the feed lines and to provide means for eiciently and rigidly supporting on a wall or the like an electric device Vwhich can be quickly connected with and disconnected from the feed lines, as Well as to provide electrical conducting and supporting means which may be readily applied to the outletbox and connected with the feed wires in substitution Y for the usual continuous and not readily separable electrical connection between the feed wires and the electrical device, without having to disturb the outlet box or those parts of the Wall directly adjoining it and its face plate.

l 'Ihe above being among the objects of the present invention, thesarne consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and wherein Y Y 1935, Serial No. 24,798

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an electric lamp, together with a part of a supporting wall and the associated electrical connecting means in section on the line I--l, Fig. 2, so far as the same parts are illustrated in both figures;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the electric lamp iixture shown in Fig. 1, parts broken away, illustrating those parts of the electrical connecting and supporting means which are embodied with the lamp or other fixture to constitute a unit;

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective View of a face plate of an outlet box which is partly broken away, and 0f those parts of the electrical connecting means which are directly supported by the face plate;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the insulating member which is directly supported on the electric fixture or lamp, and

Fig. 6 represents a broken section of a wall and a perspective view of an outlet box, broken away, together with the insulating member which is to be mounted within the outlet box, and illustrating how such insulating member may be introduced through the front opening of the outlet box.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 6 of the drawings, the Wall IU of a room or an apartment is partially illustrated, the illustrated portion representing the plaster which is finished and painted on its exposed surface in any usual manner. An outlet box I I and its face plate I2 are surrounded by the wall ID in the usual manner, that is, they are built into the wall, the face plate I2 being set slightly back from the nished face of the wall. Upon the wall I0 there is supported the electric device or xture to be controlled, such as a lamp I3.

The feed Wires I4 for supplying the current enter the outlet box II 'and are suitably attached to a member I5 preferably formed of insulation in the shape of a block supported on the face plate I2 in the manner to be described. Theinsulating member i5 is provided with transverse recesses IG and embedded therein is a pair of sockets Il which may consist of copper bushings extending from the front face of the member I5 to the recesses I6. Each or" the sockets I'I has a lateral extension I8 at its inner end which extends along the bottom of a corresponding reclips 22 or other fastenings which may be turned so as to be brought into engagement with the forward lip ifa of the face plate l2 of the outlet box. The lip 12a; defines an opening 23 which registers with an opening 25 previously formed in the wall i@ during the construction thereof. It will be seen that when the larger portion of the member l5 is brought to bear upon the inner surface of the face plate i2, the fastening clips having iirst been set so as not to interfere. with the entering of the reduced portion 2t into the opening 23, the clips 22 may be given a partial turn so as to extend over and be engaged with the flange 82a. if the clips 22 are bent to the shape shown, it is obvious that they may be of resilient metal, but if they are not resilient, the pivot screws 2l may be slightly loosened up to permit the proper engagement thereof with the flange 20, after which they are tightened so as to bind the clips upon such flange. On account of the manner in which it is preferred that the insulating block i5 is fitted to the face plate i2, it is preferred that the clips 22 be pivotally mounted on the outer face of the reduced portion 2@ of the block, whereby they are rendered later- Aally retractible onto such face and are laterally projectable outside the area of such face for the purpose of engaging with the` outward surface of the plate l2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the electric fixture or device i3 is preferably provided with a hollowed out base 25. Suitably supported within the hollow or cavity of base 25 there is a member 26 of insulating material preferably in the form of a fiat oblong block which carries the pair of projecting metal pins 27 constituting electric terminals, the ends of the same being embedded in the insulating material, so that the projecting terminals extend inwardly and downwardly at an inclination. The projecting terminals 2i should be fixed in a rigid position on the member or block 26, so that they may be inserted and fitted within the terminal sockets E?, whereby to act as rigid mechanical means for supporting the electric fixture, while at the same time they permit the iiow of current therethrough. Electric conductors 28 are embedded in insulating member 25 and are electrically connected on the one hand with the xed terminals 2i and on the other hand they lea-d to the electrical device or xture for supplying current to light a lamp or operate a clock or otherwise depending upon the function that the iixtureis to perform.

Transverse of the member or block 25 there is formed adjacent to the terminals 2'1 a recess 29 which defines two transverse shoulders Sil at opposite sides thereof. Base 25 of the fixture carries a cross-piece or bar 3| attached thereto by means of screws 32 and such cross piece is provided with a pair of struck-up tongues 33. The cross-piece 3! when in place extends horizontally across the cavity or hollow of base 25 to hold the insulating member or block 26 in place. It will` be seen that when the cross-piece 3l is removed, the member or block 26 may be placed in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and then the cross-piece may be attached to the base 25 by the screws 32, thereby engaging the cross-piece 5 in the recess 29, and the tongues 33 engaging the laterally opposite edges of the block 25, so as to hold the member or block 255 firmly in position on the base 25, whereby the parts just described constitute a unit of rigidly connected parts which l0 may be handled as such.

It will be. seen that the electric fixture or device may be readily mounted on or demounted from the wall lil and that when the xture is electrically connected with the feed wires le, such l5 device will at the same time be firmly supported upon the iinished surface of the wall i5. The member or block 25 confined in the recess or cavity of the base 25 will also rmly rest upon the front surface of the wall. The outlet box and itsface plate i2 being rigidly mounted upon the wall fil during the construction thereof, neither it nor the inner insulating member I5 will have to be disturbed, nor the wall, in removing or replacing' the electric iixture in position on the wall, thereby permitting the painting and other finishing of the wall without vencountering the posssibility of damage or injury to the. wall, and then when the surface is Iinished the fixture may be replaced and a good job will be the result.

A preferred feature of the present invention resides in the possibility of placing the member l5 and its concoinrnitant parts in the outlet box l i without having to remove or cut away any parts thereof or of the wall lo. To such end the 35 dimensions of the member or block l5 are such that as shown in Fig. 6, the same may be introduced lengthwise through the front opening 23 of the box after the feed wires I4 have been properly connected with the terminals thereof. The insertion of the parts through the opening 23 may be accomplished in any suitable manner as through the medium of a string 34 which may pass through a part of the member I5, and when the member l5 has been fully inserted it is ob- 45 Vious thatwith simple precautionary measures, the member I5 may be so adjusted and set within the box, in its proper position back of the face plate i2, so that the reduced portion 20 will extend forwardly within the ii-ange or lip l2a, after 50 which the fastening clips 22 are turned so as to engage such lip as shown in Fig. l. The string 34 may then be cut off. It is obvious that other ways may be resorted toI for placing the member l 5 in position in the box, or removing it when 55 required, as, for example, when the member has been placed in somewhat upright position in the box withv the reduced portion 20 facing forwardly, a pair of pliers or some other suitable tool may be employed to engage some portion of the member l5 to introduce it into the box and to pull the said member forwardly, so that the fastening clips 22 may be turned.

It is obvious that the invention is susceptible to more or less modification without departing 65 from the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim as new is,- Y

l. In means of the class described, the combination of a plate with an aperture and adapted to be embeddedin a wall back of the face thereof, a block of insulation,Y such block having a smaller forward portion insertable outwardly* into such apertureand fitting snugly therein, freely accessible movable means on the exposed front surface of such smaller portion for de- 75Y tachably securing the block in the fitted position, the movable means then bearing on the front surface of the plate, a pair of metallic sockets embedded in the block and connected with electric current supply conductors, the relative proportions of said block and aperture also being such that the block may be introduced from the front of the plate inwardly through the aperture to a position behind the plate and may then be adjusted, to insert the smaller portion outwardly into the aperture as before specified, a second block of insulation provided with a pair of projecting terminal elements rigid therewith for engagement in such sockets, and an electrically controlled device having a base on which the second block is located and xedly mounted, with the projecting terminals projecting rearwardly therefrom, whereby the base of the device may be mounted against the face of such wall when the projecting terminals are pushed into the sockets for supporting the device from the block embodying the sockets.

2. In means of the class described, the combination with a wall having a plate with an aperture and embedded inthe wall near the face thereof, a block of insulation, such block having a smaller forward portion insertable outwardly into such aperture and fitting snugly therein, means for detachably securing the block in the tted position, a pair of metallic sockets embedded in the block and connected with electric current supply conductors, a second block of insulation provided with a pair of projecting terminal elements rigid therewith for engagement in such sockets, and an electrically controlled device having a base on which the second block is located and Xedly mounted, with the projecting terminals projecting rearwardly therefrom, whereby the base of the device may be mounted against the face of the wall when the projecting terminals are pushed into the sockets for supporting the device from the block embodying the sockets, the aperture having a length and width respectively less than the length and Width of the block with the sockets, and the width and thickness respectively of the socketblock being less than the length and width of the aperture so that that block may be introduced lengthwise inwardly through the aperture to a position behind such plate and then be adjusted to enter the smaller portion thereof forwardly into the aperture previously to fixing such block in position and engaging the projecting terminals in the sockets.

3. In electrical connecting and supporting means, the combination with a wall having a plate with an aperture and embedded in the wall near the face thereof, a block of insulation, such block having a smaller forward portion insertable outwardly into such aperture and fitting snugly therein, means positioned movably on the front surface of such smaller portion for detachably securing the block in the tted position by projection onto the face plate, whereby the block is firmly held in fitted position by the combined action of the larger part of the block and such securing means, a pair of metallic sockets embedded in the block and connected with electric current supply conductors, and an electrically controlled device having terminals extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to be pushed into the sockets for supporting the device from the socket-block, the aperture having a length and width respectively less than the length and width of the larger portion of the socket-block, and the width and thickness respectively of the socket-block being less than the length and width of the aperture so that the block may be introduced inwardly through the aperture to a position behind the plate and then be adjusted to enter the smaller portion thereof forwardly into the aperture previously to fixing such block in position and engaging the rearward terminals in the sockets.

Ll. In means of the class described, the combination with a plate with an aperture, a block of insulation having a smaller forward portion insertable outwardly into such aperture and fitting therein, means for detachably securing the block in the iitted position, a pair of metallic sockets embedded in the block and connected with electric current supply conductors, a second block of insulation provided with a pair of projecting terminal elements for engagement in such sockets, and an electrically controlled device having a base on which the second block is located and Xedly mounted, with the projecting terminals extending rearwardly therefrom, whereby the base of the device may be mounted against the face of a wall when the projecting terminals are pushed into the sockets for supporting the device from the block embodying the sockets, the proportions of the iirst said block and of the aperture relative to each other being such that such block may be introduced inwardly through the aperture to a position behind such plate and then be adjusted to enter the smaller portion thereof forwardly into the aperture previously to fixing such block in position by the securing means and engaging the projecting terminals in the sockets.

HERBERT J. WILSON. 

